Cover assembly for an electrical switch

Abstract

A cover assembly for a first electrical switch and a second electrical switch. The cover assembly includes an alignment plate configured to be removably coupled to the first electrical switch. The alignment plate includes a first alignment feature that receives a portion of the first electrical switch to align the alignment plate with the first electrical switch, and a second alignment feature that receives a portion of the second electrical switch to align the alignment plate with the second electrical switch and to align the second electrical switch with the first electrical switch. The assembly further includes a faceplate that is removably coupled to the alignment plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cover assembly for a first electrical switch and a second electrical switch, the cover assembly comprising:
 an alignment plate configured to be removably coupled to the first electrical switch, the alignment plate including,
 a first alignment feature that receives a first portion of the first electrical switch to align the alignment plate with the first electrical switch, 
 a second alignment feature that receives a first portion of the second electrical switch to align the alignment plate with the second electrical switch and to align the second electrical switch with the first electrical switch, 
 a third alignment feature that receives a second portion of the first electrical switch, 
 a fourth alignment feature that receives a second portion of the second electrical switch, and 
 a divider that extends from the first and second alignment features to the third and fourth alignment features; and 
 
 a faceplate that is removably coupled to the alignment plate. 
 
     
     
       2. The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first alignment feature includes a first notch that receives a protrusion of the first electrical switch and the second alignment feature includes a second notch that receives a protrusion of the second electrical switch. 
     
     
       3. The cover assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the protrusion of the first electrical switch is a first protrusion, the third alignment feature includes a third notch that receives a second protrusion of the first electrical switch. 
     
     
       4. The cover assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first notch and the second notch are both about 90 degrees. 
     
     
       5. The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first alignment feature directly contacts the first portion of the first electrical switch to align the alignment plate with the first electrical switch and the second alignment feature directly contacts the first portion of the second electrical switch to align the alignment plate with the second electrical switch. 
     
     
       6. The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first alignment feature opens in a first direction and the second alignment feature opens in a second direction opposed to the first direction. 
     
     
       7. The cover assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener that removably couples the alignment plate to the first electrical switch. 
     
     
       8. The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes a screw that extends through an aperture of the alignment plate. 
     
     
       9. The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the faceplate directly attaches to the alignment plate. 
     
     
       10. The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment plate includes a projection and wherein the faceplate includes an attachment recess, wherein the projection of the alignment plate is received in the attachment recess of the faceplate to pivotally couple the faceplate and the alignment plate. 
     
     
       11. The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the faceplate includes a magnet that couples the faceplate and the alignment plate. 
     
     
       12. The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the faceplate includes a first aperture and a second aperture, and wherein a portion of the first electrical switch is configured to extend through the first aperture when the faceplate is coupled to the alignment plate and a second portion of the second electrical switch is configured to extend through the second aperture when the faceplate is coupled to the alignment plate. 
     
     
       13. The cover assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first alignment feature includes a first notch that receives a protrusion of the first electrical switch and the second alignment feature includes a second notch that receives a protrusion of the second electrical switch, and wherein the first aperture of the faceplate receives the protrusion of the first electrical switch and the second aperture of the faceplate receives the protrusion of the second electrical switch. 
     
     
       14. The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment plate is a single piece. 
     
     
       15. The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the divider spaces the first electrical switch a horizontal distance from the second electrical switch. 
     
     
       16. An electrical switch and cover assembly comprising:
 a first electrical switch; 
 a second electrical switch; 
 a first alignment plate removably coupled to the first electrical switch, the first alignment plate including,
 a first alignment feature that receives a portion of the first electrical switch to align the first alignment plate with the first electrical switch, and 
 a second alignment feature that receives a first portion of the second electrical switch to align the first alignment plate with the second electrical switch and to align the second electrical switch with the first electrical switch; 
 
 a second alignment plate removably coupled to the second electrical switch, the second alignment plate including,
 a first alignment feature of the second alignment plate that receives a second portion of the second electrical switch to align the second alignment plate with the first alignment plate and the second electrical switch; and a faceplate that is removably coupled to the first and second alignment plates. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The electrical switch and cover assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first electrical switch includes a control feature, and wherein the alignment plate includes a recess that provides access to the control feature when the alignment plate is coupled to the first electrical switch. 
     
     
       18. The electrical switch and cover assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first electrical switch includes a bezel and an actuator movable relative to the bezel to actuate the first electrical switch, wherein the control feature is adjacent the bezel. 
     
     
       19. The electrical switch and cover assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first electrical switch includes a protrusion and the second electrical switch includes a protrusion, wherein the first alignment feature includes a first notch that receives the protrusion of the first electrical switch and the second alignment feature includes a second notch that receives the protrusion of the second electrical switch. 
     
     
       20. The electrical switch and cover assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first electrical switch includes a bezel and an actuator movable relative to the bezel to actuate the first electrical switch, wherein the second electrical switch includes a bezel and an actuator movable relative to the bezel to actuate the second electrical switch, and wherein the bezel of the first electrical switch forms the protrusion of the first electrical switch and the bezel of the second electrical switch forms the protrusion of the second electrical switch.